The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-09

watson, an assistant 10 the IAttorney-bcn-
eral, died at the residence Of Dr. Kember
last night, of heart disease. Mr.. Watson
had been sent TO Cincinnati a short time
ago TO prosecute the suits against the
officers Of the Fidelity National bank.
Personal sketch Of the Deceased.
The distressingly sad news contained in
the above brief dispatch bears with il
more sincere sorrow and unieigned regret
to u wider circle OF admirng friends than,
perhaps, like announcement Of the
death of any other young man in
create. Not only the people OF
the State of Mississippi, Of which he
was u native, watched with eager pride his
every movement on the exalted plane TO
which his superior genius and great intel
lectual force had raised him, but the gov
ernment Of the United States, an impor.
tant branch OF which he was an integral
part, looked TO him with like pride and
confidence MS its trusted representative in
the discharge Of difficult and grave func-
tons.
Edward VI. Watson, rs stated above,
was native Mississippian, having been
born and reared at Holly Springs, where
his father, the Hon. J. w. G. Watson, who
has filed with marked distinction posi-
tions on the bench of the State, and who
was one Of her trusted senators in the
Confederate Congress, moved several ycars
before Edwards birth. lie had lived 20 be-
within few months OF thirty-six ycars OF
age. For the latter fifteen OF these
he has stood among the lead
ing men OF his State, both at
the bar, at which lac hal no peer, and on
the hustings rs public orator. Leaving
the Virginia Military institute with high
honor, he returned home, completed q
thorough course In the study Of law, and
was Nv special favor admitted to practice
before lac had attained his majority. From
the very commencement, hc gave evidence
OF the acutest conception OF the most intri-
cate legal tcchhicalities and n power oi
clear and forcciul analysis which com
mandcd the admiration of the most learned
tribunals before which hc appeared. Oi
fine personal presence, strikingly handsome
in feature and build, he was man 10 be
remarked among the many.
His success IN the practice Of law was
continuous. lie was close student, and
served his clients with diligcnccund vigil.
ancc born Of innate honesty. But the
court spectators and the men who wen
charmed by his logic and cloqucnce q.
they sat in the jury box marked him for
their leader, aud long before he desired Il
hc found himself engaged in the fierce po.
litical campaigns from 1872 on through the
years when the yandal aliens of black Re.
publicanism dominated oyer Mississippi
and the south lie was fearless but pru.
dent In debate, and handled opposing
argument with Sgacity which ELECTED
the admiration Of his adycrarics
Early after hc was admitted "a the bar
lac formed q partnership with Col. Van III.
Manning, who aitcrWard so ably repro
scntcd the Second district oi Mississippi
in Congress for six years, and A. 4. Moore,
who bid fair 10 be- the leading jurist oi the
state when his career was cut short by
the yellow fever scour,c oi 1873. Mr..
Watson was for q number Of ycan one OF
the members OF The State Democratic ex.
ccutive committee and chairman Of the
Second congressional district committee.
The people whom he served ~ faithfully,
with much brilliant administrative ability,
mourn bitterly his death today.
lie was n leader oi men, and they FOL.
/ lowed him with devoted confidence. In
/ 1884 he was urged 10 become a candidate
/ for Congress In the Second Mississippi dis.
/ trict, and, though hc consented 10 become
/ 80 only q few weeks before the nominating
convention was to meet, he was only de-
/ icatcd by the present incumbent, j. u
| Morgan, by few votes. lie had frequent
/ " appeared before the supreme court o
the United States in important eases, and
| his arguments before committees OF th,
House on questions Of great public impor
| had made him well known at the seat %
| government
When Mr. ScnatM Garland, Of Arkan
sas, was called into the Cabinet Of rrcsi
| dent Cleveland ~ Attorney General, hl
had the entire country from which to fc
lCct several members who were 30 assis
him in the department Of Justice. VI
exercised the closest scrutiny IN the sclCc
ton OF his assistants, and though Their
| were scores uf o.hcm with far more inhu
cncc, and who had the prestige Of year
and long acquired distinction In publ
service 10 recommend them, hc lOokel
over them and selected Mr. Watson. 10,
fitting was the selection, and with wha
satisfactory ability hc has fulfilled the dii
iicut position, the many important que'
tions which the Attorney General has IN
trusted 10 his management best speak.
III Q last Of these, and in the prosecutio
Of which he died. was the great Fidclit
bank swindlc Of Cincinnati. The financii
world was stunned aud shocked last Jun
when IL was announced that the fidolit
bank was q wreck, and had misappropr
atcd more than Si0OO,0OO of dcp0siiI
much Of Il itbclonging 10 the government
whose bonds Il had iraudulcntly hypoih,
Gated. Tho distinguished thieves VIII
had robbed the government must i
punished, and 10 whom coul
look with more confidence
sec that the extremity Of the IN
was visited upon them than Edward n
Watson. Accordingly, ho was assignc
the arduous duty-a post 10 which lac wi
never return.
His was blamelcs lie, and one whic
could well have been longthcned 10 Ion
years, for Il would have bco
one Of glory TO the giycr nm
immoasumble honor 10 his ngc and couI
, try. He was devoted christian, n scho
arly and refined gentleman In the fullc
sense, and the sweet and beautiful wido
and five bright children whom lac leaves
lorever bewail his untimCly death la,